Democrats Kyrsten Sinema, Ann Kirkpatrick claim congressional seats

Kyrsten Sinema said that she would be a moderate in Congress, citing a record in the state Legislature of partnering with Republicans.Rob Schumacher

By Rebekah L. Sanders

Posted: Nov.12th, 2012

Two of Arizona’s three undecided congressional races were resolved Monday as Democrats Kyrsten Sinema and Ann Kirkpatrick claimed victory in District 9 and District 1, respectively.

Sinema, a former state lawmaker, will represent the Valley in a new district that Arizona gained this year to reflect population gains. Kirkpatrick will head back to Washington to represent the sprawling northeast Arizona district she represented from 2008 to 2010.

Both will be in Washington this week for freshman orientation.

Meanwhile, the race in Tucson-based Congressional District 2 between Rep. Ron Barber, a Democrat, and Republican Martha McSally remains too close to call. On Monday afternoon, Barber was ahead by about 700 votes. The lead has seesawed back and forth between the two since Election Day.

The decisions in Districts 1 and 9 put to bed two of the few remaining undecided races in the country. As of Monday, fewer than 10 tight races were still undecided.

Sinema, 36, had been clinging to a nail-biter of a lead with Republican Vernon Parker, 52, since Election Day.

But on Monday, she took a 5,789-vote lead at midday, with about 209,000 votes counted.

Parker, a former Paradise Valley mayor, called to congratulate Sinema on winning the district, which includes parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Mesa and Chandler. Arizona gained the seat this year due to population growth.

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